After missing the last episode of Northern Outpost due to my summer vacation, I owe it to the NO crew and Speed’s The Name to expand my post this week to mention episode #12 alongside the headbang-inducing show that aired this week featuring the dudes in Empires (episode #13). Before diving into their own sets of mind-boggling, attention-grabbing experimental music, both Speed’s The Name and my friends in Empires discuss subjects ranging from the way they write their songs to the struggles of making a name for yourself in an oft-ignored Twin Cities music scene that seems to be filled to capacity with exceptional music artists in their respective interviews. Since there’s so much video to enjoy, I’ll keep it short this week; enjoy the double-header of local experimental rock and metal goodness!

Not too long ago, Minneapolis art-rock duo The Falcon Arrow stopped by the Owl Recording Studio to record an interview and in studio performance for the best TC-based multiple camera music show to ever grace web, and on Friday (June 5) their feature was released for public consumption as Northern Outpost‘s 11th episode. This episode proved to be one of my favorites so far, with a candid interview that emphasized some of the struggles of being an independent band in a city that’s already crowded many good ones and one of the most inventive music sets that’s been showcased yet. Through its sparse rhythm-only arrangement, the music of The Falcon Arrow is far removed from the style of post-rock that many of you are used to, yet it still possesses the same entrancing buildups and soothing come-downs that define the genre’s greatest moments. I pressed play not expecting more than a simple indie rock band, and when the replay screen finally came up I was still trying to comprehend how the looping bass of Matt Reintz was able to produce such a beautiful racket..

In two weeks Northern Outpost will be back with Episode 12 with Speed’s The Name, and I’m very excited to see that my buds in Empires will be showcasing their epic, ethereal doom metal for Episode 13. If you enjoy the highest quality music the Twin Cities have to offer, it looks like Max Becker and Northern Outpost have a stellar summer lineup in store for you. Stay tuned to find else what else is on the horizon…

Back after only a month-long absence, Northern Outpost has now uploaded the first episode of their summer season online, and for this week’s episode they’re visited by the renowned local indie/ambient/post-whatever troupe Halloween, Alaska at the Owl Recording Studio in Uptown. Still, change is noticeable, with their snowy winter lake intros now replaced by a much more inviting image of our fair city of Minneapolis in the springtime. I don’t think they have done a better job with their choice to kick things off. Halloween, Alaska just released some fantastic songs of jazzy, ambient indie rock via their new album Champagne Downtown, and the intimate confines of the Owl Recoridng Studio are the perfect place to witness the chemistry of the band. After a short interview where they discuss their new album, the originality of the local music scene, and the dedicated people that support the scene, the band gets into a moving rendition of one of the most somber and reflective pieces from the new release, “Be A Man”. It’s a great demonstration of the interesting minds and enormous talent that are just brimming out of this city, and it’s an episode that you don’t want to miss. ..makes me proud to be Minnesotan!

Look forward to the future, as well. In two weeks, the next episode will be added and will feature beloved singer-songer Lucy Michele with the Velvet Lapelles as the profiled band!

The final episode of the debut season from the local Twin Cities-oriented music TV show Northern Outpost is now online, and for this week’s episode they’re in the Owl Recording Studio in Uptown dishing the dirt with The Nina! The Pinta!, a post-hardcore band that I was fortunate enough to personally see last Wednesday at Fucked Up’s Triple Rock show. Among the other bands that opened for F’d Up’s immense set, The Nina! The Pinta!’s punchy, abrasive, post-hardcore clearly stood out. Contrasted against the other openers lo-fi punk, TNTP’s the sounds muscular set were as catchy and danceable as they were dissonant and pissed off. On this episode of Northern Outpost, we get to hear some of their rock n roll and get introduced to the faces behind the music as they talk about how they fit into the local scene, what kinds of shows they find themselves playing, and the band’s motivation continue to play punk rock in front of the local bar crowds. Watch it all unfold below!

Also, if you haven’t heard, Northern Outpost has planned a first season benefit show featuring some of the band’s they’ve featured which will take place at the Hexagon Bar next Saturday at 9pm. For this completely FREE show, The Absent Arch, Bouncer Fighter, Andy Elwell, and The Yoleus will play live sets while videos from throughout the season are broadcast on the white screen between sets. And for those of you who can’t get enough of these bands, there’ll be DVDs for purchase available at the show; please click the flyer for complete info.

Northern Outpost, the Max Becker created local music interview and performance online TV show, is back for their seventh episode. This week their featuring the Minneapolis-based spontaneous electro-rocking clan of Military Special who have just released their new album Civil Union. On this week’s show from Uptown’s Owl Recording, we get to hear about they band’s growth on Civil Union, what they enjoy about playing locally, and their take on the longevity of the high quality local indie rock scene that they are now a part of. Watch it til the end to see these young prodigies rock out to a very appropriate, highly entertaining cover of “Space Humping $19.99” from the Fiestas and Fiascos LP by late-90s TC post-punk/synth-rock innovators Lifter Puller (featuring Craig and Tad currently of the Hold Steady). And don’t forget bookmark NorthernOutpost.net to stay tuned for the final episode of the season (and to check up on previous episodes you may have missed). Enjoy!

Northern Outpost is back with their newest episode, and this week they’re in the studio with The Absent Arch. “The Arch” sits down for a brief interview about their band and their passion for the vibrant and productive local music scene in the Twin Cities, and after a few minutes they dive into a tight live performance of their orchestrated yet organic style of heartfelt folk rock. They only play one soulful new song live for four minutes, but by the time they’re done you can just tell that they’ve got a lot more to sing about. If you haven’t seen The Absent Arch live yet, I recommend that you make it out to their MoreCowbell.net sponsored show at the the Turf Club on April 16th and watch as they execute their craft on stage. For the next episode, Northern Outpost has scheduled an appearance from the praiseworthy MPLS based electro rockers in Military Special who will be hopefully playing some music from their brand new album Civil Union; don’t miss it here, March 27th!

Northern Outpost, the only Minnesota based online music television show worth talking about, has posted their fifth episode from their first season online, and this episode features the very awesome, dissonant, organic, epic progressive punk of the super active Minneapolis based band Bouncer Fighter. On this week’s show from Uptown’s Owl Recording Studios, the interview hits on a number of interesting topics such as the effect of Minnesota weather on the music of Bouncer Fighter, the cultural influence of the big city on a small town country-boy, and the closeness & undeniable greatness of the current MPLS scene. Watch it til the end to see this stellar up-and-coming band tear up the studio to one of their newest off-kilter jams, and bookmark NorthernOutpost.net to stay tuned for the final three episodes of the season (and to check up on previous episodes you may have missed!)

As I indicated, Bouncer Fighter seems to always have a local show booked that is worth going to support and groove to. This month they have great gigs booked with Women, Military Special, and much more. Keep reading to see all the dates they’ve got lined up… Continue reading →